Ash Barty reveals how her retirement plans were ruined in tribute to Spanish champ Rafa Nadal

Former world No.1 Ash Barty has revealed that her famous Australian Open victory wasn’t meant to be her final match – but she’s happy that Rafael Nadal got to live out her tennis dream. 

Nadal, who will leave behind one of the greatest legacies the sport has ever seen, finished his glittering career with defeat against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup last month.

Barty, who retired after winning the Australian Open in 2022, has revealed that she had secretly planned to retire while playing for Australia in the Billie Jean King Cup, but the fixture was canned so she had to change her plans. 

‘I love Rafa,’ Barty told News Corp.

‘What I loved most was Rafa as a human being. I played my first Australian Open when I was 15 and walked past him in the corridor and he said hello. I was this overwhelmed kid. He could not have been nicer.

‘We shared some cool successes and have those memories but I liked the way Rafa retired. He wanted to represent Spain in a team environment. That was my dream.

Barty (pictured after her win at the Australian Open) had planned to retire while representing Australia at the Billie Jean King Cup

‘I wanted to retire representing Australia at a Fed Cup tie in Brisbane which did not eventuate. I know that feeling of celebrating your career with the people you love.

‘He and his team were always so kind to us. They offered us to help and during Covid when Australia was going through quite a challenging time and his Uncle Tony had reached out to us and said ‘if you need you come there is space in our academy and we can set you up no problem at all. We are always very grateful for them.

‘It’s been such a beautiful celebration for him and his career. So many tributes from players and also other athletes around the world. It showed how much of a positive impact it had on sport and life in general.

‘He has a brilliant perspective on life and sport. I was always one of his biggest supporters.’

Barty will be back at The Australian Open next year, not on court as a player but to host the sweepstakes for Marriott Bonvoy members.

‘I like the idea of going back to the Australian Open and having a clinic for a Mariott Bonvoy member to be able to experience what it is like on a match court in a big stadium. 

‘We will go out in the morning and it will be like the calm before the storm.’ 

Barty, who since her retirement has got married and become a mother, has ruled out making a comeback.

The Aussie tennis champion has ruled out making a comeback to professional tennis

‘Not for me, I’m very happy,’ she told media earlier in the year.

‘I’ve had the most fulfilling journey in my career as a tennis player and now I’m just beginning that journey as a mum.’

In 2021, Barty ended Australia’s 41-year drought at Wimbledon, becoming the first player since her idol, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, to lift the singles trophy.

Barty had previously won the French Open in 2019 – the first Australian woman in 46 years to do so – before claiming the Australian Open in 2022 and announcing her retirement two months later as the reigning world No.1.